Shaping the future of cancer research
Globally, 1.8 million people die each year from lung cancer, more than from breast, prostate, and colon cancer combined. Lung cancer is expected to remain the leading cause of cancer death for the next two decades (Bray 2024). Yet research remains underfunded, and survival rates lag behind other cancers (LCFA 2019). Lung cancer deserves the same research focus that transformed breast cancer outcomes, where 25 years of sustained investment lifted survival rates to 90% (NBCF 2021).
World leading lung cancer research
ONJCRI Lung Cancer Chair
La Trobe University and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI) are responding by creating the ONJCRI Chair of Lung Cancer Research. This new leadership role will drive research into how lung cancer spreads and evolves and lead national and international collaborations to accelerate discovery. The Chair will attract investment and seed a collaborative team, paving the way for a dedicated lung cancer research program.
TRACKER biobank
At the Chair’s side is TRACKER, Australia’s first national lung cancer biobank, led by ONJCRI. TRACKER collects lung cancer tissue, fluid, and blood samples from patients throughout treatment, linked to powerful comprehensive clinical data. This living dataset allows researchers to monitor how lung cancers change over time, revealing why some patients respond to treatment while others do not. TRACKER is a world-first resource that requires ongoing investment to stay viable.
Your help can improve patients' lives
This powerful combination - a dedicated Lung Cancer Chair and a globally unique biobank - will place Victoria at the forefront of lung cancer research. With this, we can develop smarter, safer and more targeted therapies, improving quality of life and survival rates for all sufferers.
We can and must do more for people with lung cancer. Together we can launch a world-first lung cancer research program - driving new discoveries and brighter futures for people facing this disease.